Combination footrest and chair



G; R ASMITH COMBINATION FOOTREST AND CHAIR Filed o'cf. 11`. 1941 zza' 33a /Ga Patented July 11, 1944 COMBINATION FOOTREST AND CHAIR Glenn R.. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner of one-half to Nellie R.

Calif.

Smith, Santa. Barbara,

Application October 11, 1941, Serial No. 414,617

Claims.

This invention relates to the furniture art, and has as its objects Ato provide an improved tilting footrest and to provide a combination tilting footrest and low chair or stool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tilting footrest which is, in its inclined position, suitable for use as a childs chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tiltable footrest which when in inclined position may be readily and kcomfortably operated by the user even though the oor engaging portions of the base of the footrest are substantially spaced in front of the chair occupied by the user.

It is another object of the invention to accomplish the aforesaid objects by a simply constructed article of furniture which affords comfort to the user in each of its several positions, and which is attractive in appearance.

In the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention-in one form.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the footrest shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the platform deck of the footrest being shown in full lines to represent the position which it occupies when the footrest is to be used as a low chair or stool, and in phantom lines to represent the two extreme positions which it occupies when used as a tiltable footrest.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the footrest shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, the platform `deck being shown in phantom lines.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, showing the platform in a footrest embodying i seat Sil and a transverse member or back 3l, the

its several positions by means of full lines and phantom lines respectively, as in the showing in Fig. 2. Y

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the combination footrest and chair comprises a base II and a platform deck I2. elements I3 and I4 and three cross rails I5, IE, and I'I which unite the side elements to form a rigid base assembly. The side elements I3 and I4 are each shaped to have an upper horizontal The base II has two side portion I8 extending longitudinally of the base,

a front leg I9, and a rear leg 20, these legs serving to support the combination chair and footrest upon the floor 2 I.

It will be understood that the base II may be designed and constructed in many diierent ways without departing from the principles of the invention. Thus, the side elements I3 and I4 may be generally rectangular plates oi' wood or metal; instead of the cross rails I5 and I5 there may be used wide boards extending to the oor, giving the base a box-like construction; and the base may be constructed Wholly or in part of tubular steel. Also the side elements may be upholstered as desired to improve the appearance of the article oi furniture and to suit any particular purpose for which it is designed.

The upper portion I8 of each of the side elements I3 and IfI is formed with a guideway 22. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. i to 4, the sideelements I3 and I4 are of wood and the guideways 22 are shallow elongated recesses or grooves on the inner side faces of the side elements I3 and 4. Such grooves are termed routs in the woodworking art.

Each rout 22 extends longitudinally of the upper portion i8 of the side elements from a forward point 23 (see Fig. 4) slightly in front of the median line of the side elements, rearwardly and upwardly at a slight angle to the horizontal to a rear end wall 24. Each rout 22 has an upper wall 25 and a lower parallel wall 26. The lower wall 26 is provided with a shallow notch or depression 2`I ai; a point along the rout 22 slightly nearer the forward end 23 than the rear end wall 24. The upper rout wall 25 and the end wall 24 intersect the upper face 28 of the side portion I8 to provide an opening 29 at the rear end of the rout.

The platform deck I2 has a platform portion or transverse member 3| extending outwardly from the front end of the seat 3i] preferably at an angle to the seat of slightly more than 9U. While lor convenience of reference the platform portion 3U is herein termed a seat and the transverse member 3| is termed a back, the platform portion 30 lserves as a seat, as a foot-and-leg rest, or as a chair back according to the position of the platform deck with reference to the base and in accordance with the use to which the article of furniture is put, and similarly the transverse member 3I may serve as a` chair back, foot support, or chair seat. These several alternative uses or' the two parts of the platform deck will appear in the course of the description of the operation of the article of furniture.

The seat 30 and back 3l are rigidly secured between platform deck side members 32, each having a horizontal arm 33 to which the seat 3l) is 2 secured and an upright arm 34 to which the back 3l is secured. The seat 39 and back 3l may be suitably upholstered as shown at 35 and 35i, respectively.

The seat 33 of the platform deck is provided with two oppositely directed horizontal hinge pins 31, each projecting transversely outwardly from the corresponding side of the seat 3G. One desirable method of constructing the pins and se.- curing them to the seat 39 is shown in the drawings. A reinforcing cross bar 33 is secured to the under horizontal edges of the side members 32 and is formed at each end with a pin 31, each pin projecting a short distance beyond the outside face of the corresponding side member 3.2,. Each pin 31 projects into the corresponding rout 22 and is of a diameter slightly less than the width of the rout 22, enabling it to slide longitudinally of the rout and to be restrained from vertical` movement by the upper and lower walls of the rout. It willV be understood that while one form of g'uideway for the pin 31 has been illustrated and described in the rout 22 and one form'of an element on the platform deck for engaging the rout has been described in the pin 3l, other forms of guideways on the base and engaging elements on the platform deck maybe substitutedV therefor without departing from the'spirit of this invention. Portions or all of the upper wall of the guideway may be dispensed with without loss of some of the advantages of the invention. Also, the relative positions of the guideway and pin may be reversed, the guideway being provided on the platform deck and the engaging member Vor pin on the base. The platform deck is provided with a pair of oppositely directed stop pins 39 formed upon the f ends of a reinforcing cross bar di! which is secured between the inner side faces of the side member' 32'and preferably lies against the under surface of the seat 39. The stop pins 39 extend through apertures 4|. in the side members 32 and beyond the outer side faces ofthe vside members 32 to project into the routs 22 and engage these routs in a manner similar to' that ofthe engagement of the pins 31 with the routs 22.

The reinforcing bar di] and pins 3% are so disposedv longitudinally of the seat 3i!" that the distance between the stop pins 39 and hinge pins 31 is somewhat greater't-han the length of that portion of the routs between their front ends 23 and the notches 21.' This distance is also such that when the hinge pins 31rv areseated in the notches 21, the stop pins 39 are adjacent the end'walls 24 of the rout 22 and directly beneath the rout vopenings 29. y

In describing theoperation ofthe article 'of furniture', the position of the platform deck upon the base, identified by the letter A yand shown in full lines in Fig; 2, will first be described. VIn this position the hinge pins 31 are seated in the front ends 23 ofthe'routs 22 andthe stop pins 39 are seated in the routs 22 just behind the notches 21. The difference in spacing cf the hinge pins 31 and stop pins 39 from Vthe under side of the seat 39' and the inclination toV the horizontalof the routs 22'are Ysuch that in this position the seat is substantially horizontal. En-

gagement ofthe hinge pins and the stop pins with A 'the upper and lower Vwalls of the rout prevents tilting of the platform deck in either direction on the base. In this position of the platform. deck with respect to the'base, the article of furniture serves as a low chair or stool.V f

If, now, the platform deck lbe moved tothe rear either by pushing against the pack 3l or pulling on the seat 30, the hinge pins 31 will move to the rear until they drop into the notches 21 in which position they cooperate with the notches to provide hinge means upon which the platform deck may be tilted with respect to the base. The stop pins 39 which have at the same time moved to the rear end of the routs 22 prevent downward movement of the rear end of the platform deck, but an upward movement of the rear end of the platform deck and a downward movement of its front end are permitted by passage of the stop pins 39 upwardly through the openings 29 of the routs 22. The platform deck assumes the position shown by the phantom lines of Fig. 2 identifled by the letter B, at the beginning of this tilting movement, and assumes the position shown by the phantom lines identified by the letter C at the end of this tilting movement. The movement is limited at position C of the deck by engagement of the underside of the back 3l with the forward cross rail l5 of the base. In this position 0f the platform deck the back 3l serves as the seat of a childs chair and the seat 35i serves as the back of such a chair. Preferably the weight of the back 3| is sufficient to place the center of gravity of the` platform deck substantially in front ofthe hinge pins 31 with the result that the platform deck will move by gravity from position B to position C.

When the platformA deck is placed in position B it also serves as a foot-and-leg rest for a person sitting in a chair located directly to the right of the article of furniture. When used Vfor 'this purpose the legs of the user arersuplported by the seat 30, his heels rest upon the forward end of the seat 30 and the soles of his feet rest against the transverse member or back 3| of the platform deck. The platform deckmay then be caused to assume any position between positions B and C to suit the comfort of the user, the tendency of the platform deck to move to- Iward. position C by the action of gravity causingr the seat 39 to comfortably maintain contact with the.l legs of the user at any desired angle.

The notches 21 are disposed sufciently near the rear of the base and the seat 30 is of suiicient length that in position B :the seat projects substantially to the rear of any portion of the base il. As the rear end of the seat swings upwardly from position B toward position C., it does not pass forwardly of the rearmost portion of the base until the seat makes a substantial angle with t-he horizontal. Provision is thus made for the support of the legs of the user as farup as the knees. as he sits Iback properly in the seat` of a chair standing to the rear of the foot rest.

To return the platform deck from position B to position A shown in full lines vin Fig. 2 the rear end of the'platform deck is manu-allyl depressed or the front end thereof manually raised causing the platform deck to tilt to a slight angle about the stop pins 39Y as -a fulcrum elevating the hinge pins 31 out of the notches 21 and the platform deckk is then manually moved vforward to its low chair position A with the hinge `pins 31 seated in the forward ends 23 of thefrouts 22. To remove lthe platform Vdeck entirely from the base, the platform deck is placed in position B and4 then elevated causing the hinge pins 31 to clear the side walls of the notches 21V 'and' the stop pins 39 to move upwardly through the openings 29 and the platform deck is then .moved to the rear until the hinge pins 31 reach 'the end wall 24 of the rout when the platform deck may be b'odily lifted from the base.

Y Because of the slope of the routs 22, the movement of the platform deck from position `B to position lA is facilitatedby gravity, and for the same reason the platform deck is normally stable in position A. It can, however, be manually moved to the rear from position A to position B byv simply applying a small 'force to the platform deck in the general direction of the' axes of the routs. No preliminary elevation of any portion of the platform deck to free it for a rearward movement is required, as would be the case were the pins seated in notches at the front ends of the routs.

YIn Figs. v and 6 is shown an embodiment of the invention in a different form. The'article of furniture shown in these figures comprises a base l la and a platform deck |2a. The base I la comprises the side elements |3a and I 4a joined together by a lower front cross rail 50, a lower rear cross rail Ilia, an upper front cross rail I5a, and an upper rear cross rail 5I. In this form of the invention the upper cross rails |5a and 5I are preferably bars of rectangular cross section. If desired these upper cross rails may be extended downwardly to the floor 2| and the side elements |3a and Ida may similarly be of generally rectangular shape, extending to the iloor 2l and forming with the cross rails a base of box-like character. Such a base may be suitably upholstered on its outer faces. As shown in the drawing, the side elements I3a and Ma each have an upper portion Ia, a front leg I9a and a rear leg a.

A guideway 22a in the form of a rout is formed on the inner face of each upper portion I8a of the side elements I3a and Ma. The routs 22a are substantially horizontally disposed and each has a forward slight depression or notch 23a and a similar rear notch or depression 21a. The routs are disposed substantially centrally of the span between the cross rails l5a and 5|. Each rout has an upper horizontal wall 25a and a lower horizontal wall 26a and terminates at the notches 23a and 21a.

The platform deck |2a is mounted between the side elements |301. and I 4a and comprises a seat 30a and a back 3| a. The seat 30a and back 3Ia are rigidly secured to and between side members 32a, each side member having a horizontal portion 33a and an upright portion 34a all in a manner similar to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, The seat and back may be suitably upholstered as at 35a and 36a.

A bar 38a which is secured to the underface of the seat 30a of the platform deck is provided at its ends with oppositely directed hinge pins 31a which project beyond the side members 32a and are seated in the routs 22a respectively.

In using this form of the invention, the platform deck l2a forms with the base Ila a low chair or stool when it occupies the position identiiied by the letter A and shown in full lines in Fig. 6. In this position the hinge pins 31a are seated in the forward notches 23a and the front and rear ends of the side members 32a at the same time rest upon the cross rails |5a and 5| respectively. In this position the platform deck is locked by its own weight against movement longitudinally of the base by reason of the engagement of the hinge pins 31a with the notches 23a and is prevented from a tilting movement in either direction by the cross rails I5a and 5|.

vIf now the platform deck belifted slightly `the hinge pins 31a will contact the upper wall 25a of the routs 22a and the platform deck may be then moved rearwardly until the hinge pins 31a drop into the notches 21a. The platform deck is then in the position indicated by the phantom lines designated by the letter B' on Fig. 6.

When the platform deck is in position B', its rear end can not be depressed because of the cross rail 5|, but the platform deck may be tilted forwardly and downwardly until it assumes the position 'shown in phantom lines designated by the letter C' in Fig. 6 when the upper end of the back 3 I a contacts and rests upon the upper front `cross rail |5a. In thisform of the invention the platform deck may be so designed that the center of gravity is substantially in the vertical plane of the hinge pins 31a or slightly to the rear of this plane, with the result that it tends to remain stable in either of its positions B or C' and is easily moved back and forth between these two positions.

The notches 21a are sufliciently near the rear end of the base and the length of the platform .-.f between the hinge pins 31 and its rear end is great enough to give it when in position B a substantial overhang with respect to the rearmost portion of the base lla. This overhang is sufficient that when the deck is in position C' its rear end extends rearwardly at least as far as any portion of the base lla. This feature enables a person sitting in a chair placed' adjacent the rear end of the base Ila to easily reach the platform deck with his legs and have them comfortably supported thereon as far up as his knees.

As in the form of the invention described in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the platform deck may be provided with guideways and the base with hinge pins without departing from the spirit of the invention. Other changesin design and appearance may also be made Without removing the article of furniture from the scope of the invention. With respect to the embodiments of the two forms of the invention herein described, details of construction and design are not to be deemed controlling, but the invention is to be given the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a combination footrest and chair, the combination of: a base having side elements; a platform deck extending lengthwise of said base and between said side elements; two oppositely directed horizontal transverse hinge pins carried by said deck intermediate its ends ;y forwardly and slightly downwardly inclined elongated guideways for said pins on said side elements, each of said hinge pins being slidable within its corresponding guideway and being restrained by said guideway from vertical movement, each of said guideways being upwardly open at its rear end, closed at its forward end, and having at an intermediate point a shallow depression into which the corresponding hinge pinmay drop and be held against horizontal displacement; a stop on said base limiting the tilting movement of said deck at a forwardly and downwardly inclined position of said deck when said hinge pins are in said depressions; and two oppositely directed horizontal transverse stop pins carried by said deck, said stop pins being adapted to slidably engage said guideways and be vertically restrained thereby, said stop pins being spaced behind said hinge pins a distance greater than the length of said guideways from said intermediate point to the forward walls of said open ends and greater than the length of larly disposed back member extending upwardly with respect to the base and of suflicient Weight to dispose the center of gravity of said deck substantially in front of the axis of Vsaid tilting movement when said hinge pins are in said depressions.

4. The combination dened in claim 1 in which the rear ends of said guideways are provided with end walls disposed transversely to the axes of their elongated portions, said end walls being spaced from said intermediate points a distance slightly gr-eater than the distance between said hinge pins and said stop pins. v v

5. In an article of furniture, the combination of a pair of connected parallel side elements, each being provided. Vin its inner side with a longitudinal: groove having an upwardly directed opening and sloping from. said opening to the front end thereof; a platform member; a pair of pins secured to each side of said platform member and projecting horizontally therefrom, each pin of one pair of said pins being insertable into each of said grooves through said opening by downward movement of said platform member relative to and between said side elements, said platform member being longitudinally movable relative to said side elements when one pair of pins is in each of said grooves or tiltable when only one pin of each said pair is in each of said grooves to permit said platform member to assume any one of a pl-urality of tilted positions relative to said side elements; and stop means on said side elements and platform for-limiting movement of said platform relative to said side elements.

GLENN R. SMITH. 

